BOARD CERTIFICATION EXAM STUDY GUIDES Lower Extremity Trauma
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Posted on July 22, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Regulators fined Deutsche Bank $186 million for not fixing anti-money laundering, due diligence, and sanctions controls. This is the third time since 2015 that the Federal Reserve has fined the troubled bank for internal control failures. (CNN Business)
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Under the YouTube Health Initiative, the company partnered with several healthcare organizations, including traditional health systems like Cleveland Clinic in Ohio and Mass General Brigham in Boston, as well as online health education platforms like Osmosis and Psych Hub. Other partners include the medical journal the New England Journal of Medicine, the World Health Organization, and the American Public Health Association.
These health organizations created videos on a range of health topics, which YouTube curates in what it calls “carousels” and labels to indicate that the information comes from reputable sources. If someone searches for information on diabetes, for example, they’ll get a carousel of videos from the health partners on diabetes.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday and for the week:
The S&P 500 Index was up 1.47 points at 4,536.34, up 0.7% for the week and the benchmark’s eighth weekly gain in the past 10; the Dow Jones industrial average was up 2.51 points at 35,227.69, up 2.1% for the week; the NASDAQ Composite was down 30.50 points (0.2%) at 14,032.81, down 0.6% for the week.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 2 basis points at 3.837%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.39 at 13.60.
Utility and health care shares were among the strongest performers Friday, which may reflect investors rotating into more “defensive” sectors, which haven’t participated as much in this year’s rally and may be seen as a “relative value” or “catch-up” play.
Energy stocks were also strong as crude oil futures jumped over 2% and posted a fourth straight weekly gain. Regional banks and communication services were among the weakest sectors, while the small-cap-focused Russell 2000 (RUT) fell slightly.
Posted on July 21, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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The S&P 500 and NASDAQ fell on Thursday, weighed down by drops in Tesla and Netflix following their quarterly results, but the Dow advanced for a ninth straight day thanks to gains in Johnson & Johnson following a strong annual forecast.
Here is where the major market benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was down 30.85 points (0.7%) at 4,534.87; the Dow Jones industrial average was up 163.97 points (0.5%) at 35,225.18; the NASDAQ Composite was down 294.71 points (2.1%) at 14,063.31.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 11 basis points at 3.846%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 0.22 at 13.98.
Consumer Discretionary stocks, which are considered to have greater exposure to recession than other companies, were among the weakest performers Thursday. Technology stocks also struggled, with the NASDAQ posting its lowest close since July 12th and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) tumbling over 3%.
Health care and utilities, generally considered more recession-proof, were the strongest performers.
Posted on July 20, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
Elon Musk underlined the astounding scale of Microsoft and Nvidia’s combined market-value surge on Tuesday with a two-word tweet: “Crazy times.” While Musk didn’t spell out whether he views Microsoft or Nvidia as overvalued, his strong reaction could be a red flag for stock market investors.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday:
The S&P 500 Index was up 10.74 points (0.2%) at 4,565.72; the Dow Jones industrial average was up 109.28 points (0.3%) at 35,061.21; the NASDAQ Composite was up 4.38 points at 14,358.02.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 4 basis points at 3.744%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 0.44 at 13.74.
Posted on July 19, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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(Bloomberg) — Novartis AG raised its profit outlook and announced plans to buy back as much as $15 billion in shares as it prepares to spin off its Sandoz generics unit. Operating profit excluding some items will likely grow by low double digits this year, the Swiss drug maker said in a statement, raising its forecast for a second time from a prior estimate of high single-digits gains. The stock rose as much as 4% in Zurich trading.
Shares of U.S. telecom giantVerizon (NYSE: VZ) fell 7.5% in trading on Monday after a series of articles in The Wall Street Journal highlighted the lead in cable sheathing that telecom companies used decades ago. Some analysts downgraded the stock, but the market sold before more details were available from the company.
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Here is where the major market benchmarks ended:
U.S. stocks extended a rally as better-than-expected bank results boosted the S&P 500 and NASDAQ to fresh 15-month highs.
The S&P 500 Index was up 32.19 points (0.7%) at 4,554.98; the Dow Jones industrial average was up 366.58 points (1.1%) at 34,951.93; the NASDAQ Composite was up 108.69 points (0.8%) at 14,353.64.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was little changed at 3.793%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.16 at 13.32.
Financial stocks were among the strongest performers Tuesday, sending the KBW Regional Banking Index (KRX) up over 4%. Oilfield services shares were also strong as crude oil futures gained over 2%. The small-cap Russell 2000 (RUT) gained over 1% and posted a five-month high.
Posted on July 18, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Earnings season picks up: The Q2 reports will come fast and furious this week from companies including Bank of America, Tesla, major airlines, and American Express. But the most tea is expected to be spilled by Netflix, which will give an update on its password-sharing crackdown and discuss how the Hollywood strikes are impacting its business.
A new study reports Eli Lilly’s Alzheimer’s drug slowed cognitive and functional decline for people with early stages of the disease. The data, published Monday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found the experimental drug Donanemab slowed decline by 35% compared to a placebo group based on a measure of daily activities such as driving, managing finances and talking about current events. Researchers also shared the data at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Amsterdam.
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Lilly said it submitted an application for traditional Food and Drug Administration approval earlier this year and expects the agency will act before the end of the year.
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Finally, technology shares were among the strongest performers yesterday, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) surging over 2% to its highest level since January 2022. Smaller companies also performed well, with the small-cap focused Russell 2000 (RUT) up over 1% to end at a five-month high. Financial shares remained robust following mostly better-than-expected results from big banks last week. Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was up 17.37 points (0.4%) at 4,522.79; the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 76.32 points (0.2%) at 34,585.35; and the NASDAQ Composite was up 131.25 points (0.9%) at 14,244.95.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 2 basis points at 3.805%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 0.14 at 13.48.
Posted on July 17, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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A near-$10 trillion rally for global stocks this year will face a make-or-break moment as hundreds of companies report earnings over the next few weeks.
S&P 500 firms are expected to post a 9% drop in profits in the second quarter, making it the worst season since 2020, according to data compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence.
In Europe, it may be even worse, with a projected 12% slump. But with the bar already low — and some indicators suggesting an earnings recovery next year — strategists are split on how the markets will react.
Posted on July 15, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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The biggest U.S. banks presented a picture of a resilient economy on Friday, with consumers and businesses continuing to spend and borrow even after a lightning-fast rise in interest rates.
JPMorgan Chase’s profit soared 67% in the second quarter from a year earlier and Wells Fargo’s jumped 57%, lifted by the income they earned lending out money at higher rates. Citigroup’s net interest income was a bright spot, though profit fell 36%. All three banks beat analysts’ expectations for profit and revenue.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was down 4.62 points (0.1%) at 4,505.42, up 2.4% for the week; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was up 113.89 points (0.3%) at 34,509.03, up 2.3% for the week; the NASDAQ Composite was down 24.87 points (0.2%) at 14,113.70, up 3.3% for the week.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 7 basis points at 3.828%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.29 at 13.32.
Energy shares were among the weakest performers Friday after crude oil futures retreated nearly 2% from 2½-month highs posted Thursday. Regional banks were also lower despite stronger-than-expected quarterly results from their larger peers.
Health care and Consumer Staples were among the strongest performers. The U.S. dollar gained slightly but remained near a 17-month low against the euro.
Posted on July 14, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
Producer Price Index
By Staff Reporters
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended on Thursday
The S&P 500 Index was up 37.88 points (0.9%) at 4,510.04; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was up 47.71 points (0.1%) at 34,395.14; the NASDAQ Composite was up 219.61 points (1.6%) at 14,138.57.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 10 basis points at 3.763%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 0.04 at 13.58.
Technology shares were among the strongest performers Thursday, with the NASDAQ-100 Index (NDX) and Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) both climbing roughly 2% to 18-month highs. Communication Services and regional banks were also strong.
Oilfield services stocks gained on an extended rally in crude oil futures, which pushed above $77 a barrel near a three-month high. The U.S. dollar sank to its weakest point against the euro since February 2022 on expectations U.S. interest rates may have peaked.
Posted on July 13, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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We hope everyone is staying safe out there, especially because in healthcare, summertime is known as “trauma season.” Accidents nearly double for children, and adult injuries increase by almost 25%, with the main culprits being sports and recreational activities. So remember to put on a helmet, knee and elbow pads; etc.
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Stocks surged on Wednesday after a cooler-than-expected June consumer price index report eased some worries that the Federal Reserve may tip the economy into a recession as it fights to bring down sticky inflation.
Fundstrat’s Tom Lee told CNBC’s “Closing Bell: Overtime” on Wednesday that today’s CPI print, future expectations for easing and recent stock activity paint a market that is “behaving more like a soft landing” scenario that many deemed unreachable at the start of 2023.
Posted on July 12, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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American consumers are on track to run out of cash later this year, Bill Gross has warned.
Consumer spending is a key driver of economic growth. If it drops, a recession might be the result.
“Bond King” Gross said the government’s aggressive spending during the pandemic is still buoying the economy.
American consumers are propping up the economy by spending their pandemic savings, but they’re likely to run out of cash later this year, Gross warned.
“It’s fiscal policy not just monetary policy — stupid,” the billionaire investor tweeted. His point was that government spending and tax rates, along with interest rates and money supply, affect economic growth and inflation.
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Used Auto Prices Down
Used car prices in America saw the largest monthly slump since the height of the pandemic in June.
That’s good news on inflation, which could fall below 3% in June, the analyst said.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended: yesterday
The S&P 500® Index (SPX) was up 29.73 points (0.7%) at 4,439.26; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was up 317.02 points (0.9%) at 34,261.42; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) was up 75.22 points (0.6%) at 13,760.70.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 3 basis points at 3.978%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.23 at 14.84.
Energy companies led sector gainers Tuesday as crude oil futures extended a rally, with the benchmark WTI contract rising more than 2.5% and touching a 2½-month high on signs of lower Russian production.
The Philadelphia Oil Service Index (OSX) jumped more than 3% to a four-month high. Retail and transportation shares were also among the strongest sectors, while the health care and semiconductor sectors slipped.
Posted on July 11, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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July marks Minority/BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month
A time when healthcare leaders and policymakers acknowledge the disparities that exist in behavioral health access and outcomes, as well as examine ways to address them. Tell us how your company, hospital, or practice is working to eliminate barriers and ensure equitable access to mental health services.
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U.S. inflation cooled in May to an annual 4%, its lowest annual rate in more than two years, but core inflation rose by 0.4% month-on-month and 5.3% year-on-year.
And the markets are eagerly awaiting key inflation prints from the U.S. later this week, with the core annual consumer price index (CPI) — which excludes volatile food and energy prices — remaining persistently high to date, despite the headline figure gradually edging closer to the Federal Reserve‘s 2% target.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500® Index (SPX) was up 10.58 points (0.2%) at 4,409.53; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was up 209.52 points (0.6%) at 33,944.40; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) was up 24.77 points (0.2%) at 13,685.48.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 4 basis points at 4.008%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) rose 0.21 to 15.04.
Chip stocks were among the strongest sectors Monday, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX), jumping about 2%.
Retail and industrial stocks were also strong, while the small-cap focused Russell 2000 index (RUT) gained 1.5%. Utilities and Communication Services ranked among the weakest performers. Volatility perked up, with the VIX touching a five-week high.
Posted on July 10, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Want to know why there are seemingly no houses for sale in the US these days? These numbers should help explain:
The average rate on a 30-year mortgage climbed to 6.81% last week, its highest level of 2023, according to Freddie Mac. At the same time, almost 92% of US homeowners with mortgages have an interest rate of less than 6%, Redfin reported.
So, not many current homeowners are willing to ditch their lower mortgage rates for the higher one that would come with a new house.
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Markets: As Wall Street heads into another earnings season this week, no one has much of a clue where stocks will go from here. Bloomberg notes there’s a whopping 50% difference between the most bullish analyst forecast for the S&P 500 for the rest of 2023 and the most bearish.
Posted on July 8, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Despite high prices, new car sales have been remarkably strong so far this year and are up 12% compared to the first half of 2022, according to Cox Automotive.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500® Index (SPX) was down 12.64 points (0.3%) at 4398.95, down 1.2% for the week and just the second weekly decline in the past eight weeks; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down 187.38 points (0.6%) at 33,734.88, down 2% for the week; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) was down 18.33 points (0.1%) at 13,660.72, down 0.9% for the week.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 2 basis points at 4.06%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.61 at 14.83.
Energy shares were among the strongest performers, with the Philadelphia Oil Service Index (OSX) surging more than 6% to a four-month high. Benchmark WTI crude futures jumped more than 2% to close at a six-week high on hopes that OPEC+ production cuts will tighten supplies.
Regional banks and transportation stocks were also strong.
And, Samsung fell yesterday after revealing that its profits dropped 96% last quarter, giving the company its smallest quarterly profit since 2009 as it continues to sit on more memory chips than the market wants.
Posted on July 7, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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When markets closed Friday, Apple’s market capitalization was over $3 trillion, making it the most valuable company — ever. It’s a massive milestone for the tech giant, which warned investors in May that its current quarter revenue was expected to decline. But Friday’s stock price increasing by just over 2 percent to close at $193.97 per share suggests that investors are still confident in the company, a bright spot in an industry that has otherwise been rocked by layoffs over the past year.
Curiously, Goldman Sachs is considering exiting its partnership with Apple, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
The iPhone-maker and Goldman Sachs started rolling out a virtual credit card in 2019. The bank is in talks with American Express to take over its Apple credit card and other ventures with the tech giant, the report added.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was up 53.94 points (1.2%) at 4,450.38, a gain of 16% for the first half of 2023. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was up 283.18 points (0.8%) at 34,407.60, up 3.8% in the first half. The NASDAQ Composite was up 196.59 points (1.5%) at 13,787.92 for a first-half gain of 32%.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 2 basis points at 3.837%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.15 at 13.39.
Oilfield services companies and others in energy led sector gainers Friday, after crude oil futures rose 1% (though oil prices are down 12% so far this year).
Technology and Consumer Discretionary stocks were also strong performers, while regional banks were among the laggards. The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) eased slightly. It is down about 0.5% for the first half.
Posted on July 7, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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(AP) — U.S. officials granted full approval to a closely watched Alzheimer’s drug on Thursday, clearing the way for Medicare and other insurance plans to begin covering the treatment for people with the brain-robbing disease. The Food and Drug Administration endorsed the IV drug, Leqembi, for patients with mild dementia and other symptoms caused by early Alzheimer’s disease. It’s the first medicine that’s been convincingly shown to modestly slow Alzheimer’s cognitive decline.
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Markets: Yesterday was yet another “good news is bad news” day on Wall Street. After the ADP employment report showed private sector companies added more than 2x the jobs that were forecast last month, stocks fell and Treasury yields surged—an indication that investors expect the Fed to resume hiking interest rates to cool down the job market. So, all eyes are on the non-farm payrolls report since a stronger-than-expected report could result in even more Fed rate hikes than currently expected. Here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday:
The S&P 500® Index was down 35.23 points (0.8%) at 4,411.59; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down 366.38 points (1.1%) at 33,922.26; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) was down 112.61 points (0.8%) at 13,679.04.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 9 basis points at 4.035%.
The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) was up 1.25 at 15.43.
Energy was among the weakest sectors despite crude oil futures touching a two-week high.
Regional banks and Consumer Discretionary stocks were also lower. Volatility expectations based on the VIX jumped to their highest level since late May.
Posted on July 6, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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[AP]:Meta is poised to unveil a new app that appears to mimic Twitter — a direct challenge to the social media platform owned by Elon Musk. A listing for the app, called Threads, just appeared on Apple’s App Store, indicating it would debut as early as today. It is billed as a “text-based conversation app” that is linked to Instagram, with the listing teasing a Twitter-like micro-blogging experience.
“Threads is where communities come together to discuss everything from the topics you care about today to what’ll be trending tomorrow,” it said.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was down 8.77 points (0.2%) at 4,446.82; the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 129.83 points (0.4%) at 34,288.64; the NASDAQ Composite was down 25.12 points (0.2%) at 13,791.65.
The 10-year Treasury yield (TNX) was up about 7 basis points at 3.932%.
The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) was up 0.49 at 14.19.
Chemical makers and other materials sector companies were among the weakest performers Wednesday. Semiconductor shares were also lower, as were many energy-company shares despite a 3% surge in crude oil futures. U
Utility stocks were among the strongest performers.
Posted on July 5, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended on Monday:
The S&P 500 Index was up 5.21 points (0.1%) at 4,455.59; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was up 10.87 points at 34,418.47; the NASDAQ Composite was up 28.85 points (0.2%) at 13,816.78.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 4 basis points at 3.862%.
The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) was little changed at 13.58.
Financial companies had a good day Monday, with the KBW Regional Banking Index (KRX) rising more than 2%.
The consumer discretionary sector was also strong, while energy companies got a bump as crude oil futures reached their highest level in more than a week.
Health Care stocks lagged.
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Wall Street is hoping for a strong start to the second half of 2023 taking cues from the recent tech rally that has boosted the overall investor sentiment. Turning toward the U.S.-China trade war, on Monday, the mainland posed restrictions on the export of gallium and germanium to the U.S. citing national security concerns. These metals are used in semiconductor manufacturing and the curb is being used as a means of retaliation to the U.S. chip ban on China.
Remarkably, Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) stock has been on an uphill climb lately, thanks to the growing adoption of its North American Charging Standard (NACS) charging connectors by major automakers including General Motors (NYSE:GM), Ford (NYSE:F), and Rivian (NASDAQ:RIVN). Moreover, the EV maker posted better-than-expected auto delivery and production numbers for the month and quarter ending June 30, pushing shares up 6.9% on July 3.
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Future Salaries Will Decrease?
Median incomes are projected to drop over the next few decades, falling by 0.43 percentage points per year between now and 2020, 0.52 points per year between 2020 and 2030, and 0.2 points per year between 2030 and 2040.
Although the figures on their own are not staggering, the percentage drops over time will add up significantly. By 2050, an employee who earned $50,000 in 2013 will only make $44,000. The number is even more noticeable after accounting for inflation.
Posted on July 3, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Investors are coming out of the mid-year investing season enthused and thanks to an Artificial Intelligence fueled stock market rally that turned into an everything rally.
The NASDAQ posted its best H1 since 1983, and the S&P 500 had its best first-half performance since 2019.
But, don’t expect Wall Street fireworks for the next few days. The US stock market will close early today and shut down tomorrow for Independence Day.
Posted on June 30, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Big banks powered the Dow higher h of positive economic headlines dropped. Financial institutions aced their Fed “stress test” that measures how they’d hold up during a downturn, Q1 GDP was revised much higher than previously calculated, and the number of Americans filing new unemployment claims fell the most in 20 months.
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Solid economic numbers lifted the S&P 500 and Russell 2000 to nearly two-week highs. So, here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was up 19.58 points (0.5%) at 4,396.44; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was up 269.76 points (0.8%) at 34,122.42; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) was little changed at 13,591.33.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up nearly 13 basis points at 3.838%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 0.11 at 13.54.
Financial companies were among the strongest sectors Thursday, with the KBW Regional Banking Index (KRX) rising nearly 2% to its highest level in over a week.
Oilfield services stocks also gained behind strength in crude oil futures, which briefly climbed above $70 a barrel to their highest price in a week. Communications services and technology shares were among the weakest sectors.
The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) strengthened to its highest level in over two weeks amid expectations for higher interest rates.
Posted on June 29, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Justice Department on Wednesday announced federal and local criminal charges targeting 78 defendants across 16 states as part of a law enforcement action involving $2.5 billion in alleged healthcare fraud schemes targeting elderly and disabled people, HIV patients and even pregnant women.
The cases range from allegations of falsely billing the federal Medicare insurance program for elderly and disabled Americans and paying illegal kickbacks, to the illicit diversion of expensive prescription medications and the improper dispensing of highly addictive opioid pain killers.
Among those facing charges include 24 doctors, nurses and other licensed medical professionals, as well as healthcare executives including the current and former CEOs of a durable medical equipment online platform accused of falsely billing $1.9 billion in fraudulent claims.
Of the $2.5 billion in alleged fraudulent claims to Medicare, state Medicaid programs that serve the poor and supplemental Medicare insurance programs offered by private insurers, about $1.1 billion was actually paid out to the fraudsters, officials said.
“The Justice Department will find and bring to justice criminals who seek to defraud Americans and steal from taxpayer-funded programs,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.
On Friday, the Labor Department will update its Personal Consumption and Expenditures (PCE) index, which is the Fed’s preferred inflation measure. The June employment report follows on July 7th.
So, here is where the major benchmarks ended, yesterday:
The S&P 500 Index was down 1.55 points at 4,376.86; the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 74.08 (0.2%) at 33,852.66; the NASDAQ Composite was up 36.08 points (0.3%) at 13,591.75.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 6 basis points at 3.71%.
CBOEs Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.31 point at 13.43.
Regional banks and utilities were among the weakest sectors Wednesday, with the Philadelphia Utility Index (UTY) ending at its lowest level in nearly four weeks. Energy companies ranked among the top gainers as crude oil futures rose more than 2%.
Insurer Travelers Companies fell 2.5% to become the day’s worst-performing Dow stock.
Salesforce shares rose after Goldman Sachs said the company was poised to boost its profits.
Intel shares fell after Oracle said its software would be compatible with Ampere Computing chips in a blow to Intel’s position with data center customers.
Posted on June 28, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Over $200 billion from the U.S. government’s COVID-19 relief programs were likely stolen, a federal watchdog said on Tuesday, adding that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) had weakened its controls in a rush to disburse the funds.
At least 17% of all funds related to the government’s coronavirus Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) schemes were disbursed to potentially fraudulent actors, according to a report released Tuesday by the SBA’s office of inspector general. Over the course of the pandemic, the SBA disbursed about $1.2 trillion of EIDL and PPP funds.
The SBA disputed the more than $200 billion figure put forward by the watchdog and said the inspector general’s approach had significantly overestimated fraud.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended, yesterday
The S&P 500 Index was up 49.59 points (1.2%) at 4,378.41; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was up 212.03 points (0.6%) at 33,926.74; the NASDAQ Composite was up 219.89 points (1.7%) at 13,555.67.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 5 basis points at 3.766%.
Cboe’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 0.50 at 13.75.
Technology stocks led sector gainers, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) rising nearly 4%. Consumer Discretionary and Retail shares were also higher. Energy shares lagged as crude oil futures dropped more than 2%.
Posted on June 27, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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The NASDAQ and S&P 500 fell to two-week lows, adding to last week’s declines, as investors continued to digest hawkish Fed comments and recession risks.
Here is where the major benchmarks ended today:
The S&P 500 Index was down 19.51 points (0.5%) at 4,328.82; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down 12.72 points at 33, 714.71; the NASDAQ Composite was down 156.74 points (1.2%) at 13,335.78.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 2 basis points at 3.714%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 0.77 at 14.21.
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UnitedHealth Group related more people were using the healthcare system (bad news for insurers), and no one exactly knew why. Then yesterday, the sleuths at UBS published a note with a clever hypothesis: Rising healthcare utilization rates could be fueled by…pickleball injuries.
UBS calculated that the game’s surging popularity—among seniors, in particular—will contribute $377 million in medical costs this year for procedures like hip replacements and knee surgeries, Bloomberg reported.
Posted on June 26, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Last week, the NASDAQ snapped its eight-week winning streak, but it’s still on pace for its best and has nearly erased its total losses from 2022. Over in the media world, everyone (Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount Global) is struggling except Netflix.
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But, the U.S. dollar rose to a 15-month high against the ruble this Monday after dramatic weekend events in Russia, which saw an aborted mutiny by heavily armed mercenaries. The dollar index also found some safe-haven support on lingering worries that the protracted monetary tightening cycles from major central banks would further hurt the global economic outlook.
Posted on June 24, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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U.S. stocks slipped on Friday, yesterday, with Wall Street’s benchmark gauge notching its worst week since early March. Equities have stalled in the last few days as the rally has taken a breather.
The tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite (COMP.IND) retreated 1.01% to end at 13,492.52 points, while the S&P 500 (SP500) closed 0.76% lower at 4,348.37 points. The blue-chip Dow (DJI) fell 0.64% to settle at 33,728.69 points.
On a weekly basis, the S&P was down 1.39%, the NASDAQ was down 1.44% while the Dow was down 1.67%.
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The following companies had stock price moves driven by quarterly earnings or analyst ratings:
3M (MMM) agreed to pay up to $12.5 billion to settle hundreds of lawsuits brought by cities that claimed their drinking water had been contaminated by the company’s chemicals. 3M shares still ended with a gain of 0.3%.
C3.ai (AI) shares dropped sharply after Deutsche Bank reiterated its “sell” rating, saying the company hadn’t differentiated itself from other artificial intelligence firms at its investor day. C3 shares fell nearly 11%.
CarMax (KMX) reported quarterly revenue at $7.7 billion, down 17% from a year earlier but still surpassing Wall Street expectations. Shares of the used car retailer rose 10%.
Chipotle (CMG) had its share price target boosted by KeyBanc, which cited sustained traffic momentum and pricing power as inflation for avocado and chicken prices remains tame. Shares of the restaurant chain still ended down about 0.3%.
Delta Air Lines (DAL) had its share price target raised to $55 from $48 by Barclay’s, which cited optimistic expectations for near-term earnings. The airline’s shares still fell about 0.2%.
Ford (F) plans a new round of layoffs for U.S. salaried workers, the Wall Street Journal reported late Thursday. It’s unclear how many jobs will be affected. Ford has said it’s working to get costs in line as it transitions to electric vehicles. Its shares fell about 1.2%.
Starbucks (SBUX) shares fell following reports a union representing workers said some stores would strike beginning Friday. The coffee chain’s shares fell 2.5%.
Under Armour (UAA) shares were downgraded to “equal weight” from “overweight” by Wells Fargo, which cited overexposure to North America, excess inventory, and a fairly new CEO. The athletic apparel company’s shares fell nearly 3%.
Virgin Galactic (SPCE) shares fell sharply following reports the space tourism company had raised $300 million through a common stock offer. Its shares dropped more than 18%.
Wayfair (W) shares were upgraded to “market perform” from “underperform” by MoffettNathanson, which said the online retailer was benefiting from the bankruptcy of Bed Bath & Beyond. Wayfair shares rose about 0.4%.
Among other companies, Carnival Corp. (CCL) is expected to report quarterly results Monday. The cruise operator is expected to report a loss of 35 cents per share for the previous quarter, narrower than the $1.64 per share loss for the same period a year earlier, according to NASDAQ. Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA), Micron Technology (MU), and General Mills (GIS) are also scheduled to report results next week.
Posted on June 23, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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The marine mystery that captivated the world this week had a tragic conclusion: Authorities confirmed yesterday that they found broken pieces of the OceanGate Titan submersible near the Titanic wreckage it was en route to explore, meaning its five passengers are dead.
They are OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, British explorer Hamish Harding, Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, British-Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, and his son, Suleman Dawood (who, according to his aunt, was “terrified” of the trip but ultimately went to please his dad for Father’s Day).
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday
The S&P and NASDAQ found their way back into the green after a three-day losing streak, though the market overall has been a little sleepy this week.
Yesterday’s winner goes to Overstock which jumped after the online retailer agreed to buy Bed Bath & Beyond’s IP, name and digital assets for $21.5 million. But BB&B, which went bankrupt in April, won’t be able to keep its stores open as part of the deal.
And, the 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was little changed at 3.727%.
While, CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was was down 0.68 at 13.19.
Technology shares were among the weakest performers Wednesday, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) dropping nearly 2% to near a two-week low.
Regional banks were also lower. Energy stocks led sector gainers as crude oil futures jumped nearly 2% to a two-week high on hopes for stronger demand from China.
Volatility based on the VIX sank to its lowest level since January 2020.
Posted on June 21, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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DEFINITION: A solstice occurs when one of the Earth’s poles (today, it’s the north) tilts toward the sun at the maximum angle. The two solstices, in December and June, mark the beginning of winter and summer and give us the longest days and nights of the year.
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Summer officially arrives: The summer solstice is on Wednesday today, marking the astronomical beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. It’s also the longest “day” of the year above the equator. Soak in those 9 pm sunsets, because they won’t last forever … or at least until next year 2024.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was down 16.25 points (0.4%) at 4,409.59; the Dow Jones industrial Average was down 108.94 (0.3%) at 34,299.12; the NASDAQ Composite was down 93.25 (0.7%) at 13,689.57.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 4 basis points at 3.769%.
CBOEs Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.97 at 13.53.
Retailers and regional banks were among the weakest performers Friday, and the Russell 2000 ended with a loss of about 1%.
Energy companies were among the strongest sectors thanks to crude oil futures extending a recent rally above $70 a barrel.
Posted on June 17, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended; yesterday
The S&P 500 Index was down 16.25 points (0.4%) at 4,409.59; the Dow Jones industrial average was down 108.94 (0.3%) at 34,299.12; the NASDAQ Composite was down 93.25 (0.7%) at 13,689.57.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 4 basis points at 3.769%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.97 at 13.53.
Retailers and regional banks were among the weakest performers Friday, and the Russell 2000 ended with a loss of about 1%.
Energy companies were among the strongest sectors thanks to crude oil futures extending a recent rally above $70 a barrel.
Posted on June 15, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
UnitedHealth Group expects to spend more of its members’ premiums on medical care in the second quarter, driven by a rise in outpatient care for Americans 65 and older in Medicare plans, CFO John Rex said Tuesday at a Goldman Sachs investor conference. Speaking at a Goldman Sachs healthcare conference, Tim Noel, CEO of UnitedHealth’s Medicare and retirement business, pointed to elevated demand for outpatient procedures from Medicare patients, per Reuters.
“We’re seeing that more seniors are just more comfortable accessing services for things that they might have pushed off a bit like knees and hips,” Noel reportedly said at the conference. The elevated demand is expected to increase the company’s second-quarter costs and premiums look set to lag spending on claims. As a result, UnitedHealth said it expects its medical loss ratio for full-year 2023 to be in the upper end of its prior outlook.
But, following the news, RBC Capital analyst Ben Hendrix reiterated UnitedHealth with an Outperform and maintained its $592 price target. Mizuho analyst Ann Hynes also reiterated UnitedHealth with a Buy and a $600 price target.
The S&P 500 Index was up 3.58 points (0.1%) at 4,372.59; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down 232.79 (0.7%) at 33,979.33; the NASDAQ Composite was up 53.16 (0.4%) at 13,626.48.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 4 basis points at 3.80%.
Cboe’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.74 at 13.87.
Regional banks and retail were among the weakest sectors Wednesday. The KBW Regional Banking Index (KRX) tumbled from a 14-month high earlier in the day, ending down nearly 3%. Small-caps stocks also took a hit, as the Russell 2000 Index (RUT) fell 1.2%. The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) rebounded sharply from a four-week low, boosted by the indications rates will stay higher for longer.
Posted on June 13, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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The Biden administration finalized a deal to preserve the federal mandate requiring U.S. health insurers to cover preventive care like cancer screenings and HIV-preventing medication at no extra cost to patients while a legal challenge continues. The agreement, first disclosed last Friday and now finalized in a filing in the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, leaves the mandate in place nationwide while the administration appeals a court order striking it down.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday:
Stock indices finished yesterday’s trading session in the green. The NASDAQ 100 (NDX), S&P 500 (SPX), and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) gained 1.76%, 0.94%, and 0.56%, respectively. The energy sector (XLE) was the session’s laggard, as it fell 0.95%. Conversely, the technology sector (XLK) was the session’s leader, with a gain of 2.18%.
Furthermore, the U.S. 10-Year Treasury yield saw little change, as it hovers around 3.74%. Conversely, the Two-Year Treasury yield decreased to 4.58%. This brings the spread between them to -84 basis points.
Posted on June 10, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives just unveiled a series of new tax breaks aimed at businesses and families while proposing to reverse some of President Joe Biden’s legislative victories, including credits to spur the sale of clean-burning electric vehicles.
Under the proposed legislation, married couples filing jointly would receive a $4,000 “deduction bonus” for two years that the committee said would potentially help up to 107 million families who take the standard deduction.
The legislation also would significantly increase the way businesses could claim depreciation deductions, raising the threshold to a permanent $2.5 million from the current $1 million that was contained in the Republicans’ broad 2017 tax cut package.
Other provisions include an expansion of tax benefits for small start-up enterprises to “S Corporations,” while eliminating some “red tape” that small businesses experience related to contract workers.
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The Closing Friday Markets
Markets: Stocks celebrated the summer Friday by jumping up yesterday, giving the S&P 500, which recently reentered bull market territory, its fourth positive week in a row. And, Tesla enjoyed its eleventh consecutive trading day in the green, matching its longest hot streak.
The S&P 500 Index was up 4.93 points (0.11%) at 4,298.86; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was up 43.17 points (0.13%) at 33,876.78; the NASDAQ Composite (COMPX) was up 20.62 points (0.16%) at 13,259.14.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was little changed at 3.740%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 10 points at 13.75.
The Technology, Consumer Discretionary, and Communication Services sectors—home to market heavyweights such as Alphabet (GOOGL), Apple (AAPL), Meta (META), Microsoft (MSFT), NVIDIA (NVDA), and Tesla (TSLA)—were the strongest performers Friday. Energy was among the weaker sectors, as crude oil futures fell 1.5% to just above $70. The small-company-focused Russell 2000 (RUT) lagged, falling about 0.9%.
Posted on June 9, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Former President Trump says he has been indicted on federal charges that emerged out of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s months-long investigation.
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Middle income home buyers in the United States are finding little on the market to buy, even if they can qualify and afford a mortgage. These would-be buyers face the most severe housing shortage of any other income bracket, according to a new analysis from the National Association of Realtors and Realtor.com that found the market is short more than 300,000 affordable homes for these buyers.
The report defined a middle-income home buyer as someone in a household earning up to $75,000 a year, the median household income in the United States. Given that income, these buyers can purchase homes valued up to $256,000 without being overburdened with housing costs. And there are a lot fewer homes in this category than a few years ago. Middle-income buyers can afford to buy less than a quarter — only 23% — of listings that are currently on the market. Five years ago, this income group could afford to buy half of all available homes, according to the report.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday:
The S&P 500 Index was up 26.41 points (0.6%) at 4293.93; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was up 168.59 (0.5%) at 33,833.61; the NASDAQ Composite (COMPX) was up 134 points (1.02%) at 13,238.52.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was little changed at 3.714%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.29 at 13.65.
Retail and Consumer Discretionary stocks led gains Thursday among S&P 500 sectors, while technology stocks were also strong. Small-cap stocks eased, but the Russell 2000 (RUT) is still up 2.7% for the week. Energy stocks slumped after reports of a possible nuclear deal between the U.S. and Iran sent WTI crude oil futures down nearly 2%. Volatility fell near a two-year low.
Posted on June 8, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Turkey’s lira plunged 7% to a record low yesterday in its biggest selloff since a historic 2021 crash, a move traders said is a “strong signal” that Ankara is moving away from state controls toward a freely traded currency. The currency has come under increasing pressure since President Tayyip Erdogan was re-elected on May 28. It was trading at 23.18 against the dollar at 1500 GMT, after touching a record low of 23.19, bringing its losses this year to around 20%.
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Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, in her first interview since the U.S. debt-ceiling was lifted last week by Congress, warned on Wednesday about the potential for banks to feel strain from their exposure to weakening commercial real estate valuations. Yellen was asked by CNBC “Squawk Box” host Andrew Ross Sorkin about if she’s worried about the state of estimated $20.7 trillion commercial real-estate market, particularly the office, and if weakness in the sector could potentially spark more bank failures.
“Well, I do think that there will be issues with respect to commercial real estate,” Yellen said. “Certainly, the demand for office space since we’ve seen such a big change in attitudes and behavior toward remote work has changed and especially in an environment of higher interest rates.”
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The equities market diverged today between a small handful of strong-performing mega-cap companies, which delivered most of the gains recently in the big benchmark indexes, and the lagging majority. Such concentration suggests a weakness below the headline numbers that could become a problem down the line.
Here is where the major benchmarks ended today:
The S&P 500® Index (SPX) was down 16.33 points (0.4%) at 4267.52; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was up 91.74 (0.3%) at 33,665.02; the NASDAQ Composite (COMPX) was down 171.52 (1.3%) at 13,104.90.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 9 basis points at 3.791%.
CBOEs Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.04 at 13.92.
Smaller financial companies were also in the spotlight again, with the KBW Regional Banking Index (KRX) continuing its rebound with a nearly 4% jump. Energy stocks were also strong as crude oil futures climbed more than 1%, and transportation companies also gained. Communication Services led decliners among S&P 500 sectors.
The Biden administration is confident it will succeed in the courts against Merck & Co’s lawsuit filed on Tuesday, the White House said, defending the Medicare health insurance program’s authority to seek deals on medicine prices. “We are confident we will succeed in the courts: there is nothing in the Constitution that prevents Medicare from negotiating lower drug prices,” White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
Behind negative returns for shares of UnitedHealth and Merck, as noted above, UnitedHealth’s shares were off $14.28, or 2.9%, while those of Merck have dropped $3.23, or 2.9%. A $1 move in any one of the 30 components of the Dow results in a 6.59-point swing. In summary:
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday:
The S&P 500® Index was up 10.04 points (0.2%) at 4283.84; the Dow Jones industrial average was up 10.48 at 33,573.34; the NASDAQ Composite was up about 47 points (0.36%) at 13,276.42.
The 10-year Treasury yield was little changed at 3.687%.
Posted on June 3, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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The end of debt standoff and a stronger-than-expected jobs report helped boost the Dow to its biggest gain in over six months, while the NASDAQ is near a 14-month high.
Here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday:
The S&P 500® Index (SPX) was up 61.35 points (1.5%) at 4282.37, near a 10-month high; the Dow Jones industrial average was up 701.19 (2.1%) at 33,762.76; the NASDAQ Composite was up 139.78 (1.1%) at 13,240.77.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 9 basis points at 3.695%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 1.07 at 14.58.
Financial companies were among the strongest performers Friday, with the KBW Regional Banking Index (KRX) rising more than 6%.
Oilfield services companies and others in the energy sector were also strong, as crude oil futures extended a recent rally above $70 per barrel. Volatility measures dropped as the debt ceiling deal removed a source of uncertainty, with the VIX hitting its lowest level since July 2021.
Posted on June 2, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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National Hurricane Season Commences
The Atlantic hurricane season is the period in a year, from June 1st through November 30th, when tropical or subtropical cyclones are most likely to form in the North Atlantic Ocean. These dates, adopted by convention, encompass the period in each year when most tropical cyclogenesis occurs in the basin. Even so, subtropical or tropical cyclogenesis is possible at any time of the year, and often does occur.
Interest Rates?
New US government data shows there were more open jobs last month than expected, raising the possibility that the Federal Reserve could keep hiking Interest Rates Up.
Banks
Shares of large and mid-sized U.S. banks sharply under performed the broader markets with worries about commercial real estate loans in focus among bank investors.
Companies
The e-commerce giant Amazon has agreed to shell out the cash to settle a pair of lawsuits lodged by the Federal Trade Commission. It will cough up $5.8 million to resolve claims that it let employees and contractors access footage from Ring doorbell cameras and another $25 million because Alexa allegedly improperly retained information from children. Amazon’s also facing criticism from its staff—hundreds of corporate employees walked out yesterday to protest the company’s layoffs, return to office mandate, and contributions to climate change.
Advance Auto Parts tanked after the car parts seller cut its dividend and outlook for the year.
The Markets
Here is where the major benchmarks ended, yesterday:
The S&P 500 Index was up 41.19 points (1.0%) at 4221.02; the Dow Jones industrial average (DJIA) was up 153.30 (0.5%) at 33,061.57; the NASDQ Composite was up 165.70 (1.3%) at 13,100.98.
The 10-year Treasurynoteyield (TNX) was down about 3 basis points at 3.603%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 2.25 at 15.69.
Oilfield services providers and other energy companies led sector gains, as crude oil futures rallied nearly 3% and pushed back above $70 barrel despite higher-than-expected U.S. inventories reported Thursday. Semiconductor makers and other tech companies continued their recent show of strength. The U.S. Dollar Index ($DXY) fell to its lowest level in more than a week amid ideas the Fed may soon “pause” its sharp rate hikes of the past year.
Posted on June 1, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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According to ABC News, the US House of Representatives just approved a bill to raise the nation’s debt ceiling while cutting some government spending over the next two years, in a major victory for both the White House and Republican leaders as the country tip-toes closer to a historic default on its bills. The final vote was 314-117. Now, the deal moves to the Senate, where Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has promised to work to pass it quickly.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday:
The S&P 500 Index was down 25.69 points (0.6%) at 4179.83; the Dow Jones industrial average was down 134.51 (0.4%) at 32,908.27; the NASDAQ Composite was down 82.14 (0.6%) at 12,935.29.
The 10-year Treasury yield was down about 5 basis points at 3.641%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index was up 0.26 at 17.74.
Regional banks were among the weakest performers Wednesday, while energy stocks also slumped as crude oil futures extended a recent sell-off.
The utilities and healthcare sectors were among the few gainers.
Despite weakness in technology, the NASDAQ still ended with a gain of 5.8% for the month, while the S&P 500 was up 0.3%. The U.S. dollar index rose to a 2½-month high.
Posted on May 31, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Workers appear to value paid time off even more than having employer-funded health insurance, a recent study found. The Pew Research Center report called “How Americans view their jobs” found 62% of the 5,900 people surveyed felt it’s “extremely” important to have paid time off for vacations or minor illness, with a further 27% saying it’s “very” important. That’s higher than the 51% who said employer-funded health insurance was extremely important, with 28% saying it’s very important.
And, here is where the major market benchmarks ended yesterday:
The S&P 500 Index was up 0.07 point at 4205.52; the Dow Jones industrial average was down 50.56 (0.2%) at 33,042.78; the NASDAQ Composite was up 41.74 (0.32%) at 13,017.43.
The 10-year Treasury yield was down about 13 basis points at 3.694%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index was little changed at 17.46.
Oilfield services companies and others in energy were among the weakest performers as crude oil futures dropped more than 4% to less than $70 a barrel, reflecting ample supply.
Consumer staples and health care were also weak. The U.S. dollar index was down slightly after rising earlier to its highest level since mid-March.
Posted on May 27, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Money managers often share their thoughts in real time, but fewer still have 50 years of experience navigating the markets. Hedge fund manager Doug Kass is one of them.
Kass, who offers his stock picks and insights in his Real Money Pro Daily Diary, doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to managing risk. He recently told investors interested in artificial intelligence that the road to AI profits will likely be rockier than expected for the likes of Nvidia (NVDA) – Get Free Report, Microsoft (MSFT) – Get Free Report, Alphabet (GOOGL) – Get Free Report, and C3.ai (AI) – Get Free Report.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday:
The S&P 500® Index was up 54.17 points (1.3%) at 4205.45; the Dow Jones industrial average was up 328.69 (1.0%) at 33,093.34; the NASDAQ Composite was up 277.59 (2.2%) at 12,975.69.
The 10-year Treasury yield was little changed at 3.81%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index was down 1.22 at 17.93.
Tech remains the runaway upside leader among sectors, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor index soaring over 6% to a 14-month high Friday. The NASDAQ-100 also ended near a 14-month high. Communications services and real estate were also strong.
Oilfield services and other energy companies were among the weakest sectors, despite a jump of more than 1% in crude oil futures.
Posted on May 26, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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The value of the US tech company Nvidia has soared by a quarter after it predicted a boom in demand for its computer chips to meet the needs of artificial intelligence products such as ChatGPT. Nvidia’s share price rose by 25% in early trading on the back of the announcement, and gave it a market valuation of more than $940bn (£760bn) after stock markets opened on Wall Street on Thursday, up from $755bn on Wednesday evening. The share price had already more than doubled over the course of 2023, amid huge optimism over the rapid progress of generative AI products. These require massive data centers full of semiconductor chips to operate.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday:
The S&P 500® Index was up 36.04 points (0.9%) at 4151.28; the Dow Jones industrial average was down 35.27 (0.1%) at 32,764.65; the NASDAQ Composite was up 213.93 (1.7%) at 12,698.09.
The 10-year Treasury yield was up about 10 basis points at 3.823%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index was down 1.01 at 19.02.
The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index also rose more than 4% to near a 14-month high, while the NASDAQ-100 hit a 13-month high. Transportation stocks were also higher. Oilfield services companies were among the weakest performers as crude oil futures fell more than 3%.
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US credit rating called into question
Credit rating agency Fitch just warned that the fight over the debt ceiling could force it to question the US’ perfect credit rating. It said it had put the nation’s triple-A credit rating on “rating watch negative,” meaning it’s poised for a downgrade if lawmakers can’t work things out. Even negotiations that drag on too long before a deal is reached could trigger a downgrade: That’s what happened in 2011, when S&P dinged the US’ credit over default fears. S&P still hasn’t returned the nation’s score to its highest rating.
Posted on May 25, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Thousands of clients of Maxim Healthcare Services are about to receive a payment of up to $5,000 in compensation for a data breach. According to information obtained by The Sun, the private medical personnel company based in Columbia, Maryland; agreed to pay 2020 data breach claims filed in a class action lawsuit by residents of the state of California.
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Gold futures tallied a third consecutive session decline settling at their lowest in nearly a week as further strength in the U.S. dollar pressured prices for the precious metal. Gold gave up early gains that had been driven by uncertainty surrounding a U.S. debt-ceiling deal in Congress.
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And, here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday:
The S&P 500 Index was down 30.34 points (0.7%) at 4115.24; the Dow Jones industrial average was down 255.59 (0.8%) at 32,799.92; the NASDAQ Composite was down 76.08 (0.6%) at 12,484.16.
The 10-year Treasury yield was up about 4 basis points at 3.742%.
CBOEs Volatility Index was up 1.52 at 20.04.
Technology and regional bank stocks were among the weakest sectors, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index down more than 2%. Energy was one of the few gainers among S&P 500 sectors as crude oil futures climbed to a three-week high of near $74 a barrel. The U.S. dollar index rose a third straight day to a two-month high.
Posted on May 24, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Washington’s failure to wrap up the debt-ceiling negotiations sent stocks tumbling yesterday. Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was down 47.05 points (1.1%) at 4145.58; the Dow Jones industrial average was down 231.07 (0.7%) at 33,055.51; the NASDAQ Composite was down 160.53 (1.3%) at 12,560.25.
The 10-year Treasury yield was down about 2 basis points at 3.701%.
Posted on May 23, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday:
The S&P 500® Index was up 0.65 point at 4192.63; the Dow Jones industrial average was down 140.05 (0.4%) at 33,286.58; the NASDAQ Composite was up 62.88 (0.5%) at 12,720.78.
The 10-year Treasury yield was up about 3 basis points at 3.721%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index was up 0.38 at 17.19.
The NASDAQ-100 Index ended at a 13-month high, driven by gains in large tech companies. Lenders were also particularly strong, with the KBW Regional Banking Index up nearly 3%. Oilfield services companies also rose as crude oil futures ticked higher. Consumer staples was among the weaker sectors.
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Debt ceiling negotiations could result in less funding for state and local health officials to combat STDs. Remote work is making it easier for some family caregivers to fill care gaps. An RSV vaccine for pregnant women is another step closer to approval. Congress will question CIGNA over its practice of rejecting medical claims by the hundreds of thousands every month.
Posted on May 20, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Regional bank stocks slid again on Friday on fears that more banks might fail or need intervention from the government. The KBW Regional Bank index fell by nearly 3% from rumors that Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said additional bank consolidations might need to occur, according to a CNN report.
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Yesterday, stocks turn south after Republicans walked out on debt ceiling talks, but the S&P 500 and NASDAQ are still higher for the week. In summary:
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 109.28 points, or 0.3%, to close at 33,426.63.
The S&P 500 fell 6.1 points, or 0.1%, to finish at 4,191.98.
The NASDAQ Composite dropped 30.94 points, or 0.2%, to end at 12,657.90.
All three major indexes booked weekly gains, with the Dow rising 0.4% to snap two straight weeks of losses. The S&P 500 saw a 1.6% gain for the week, also snapping back-to-back weekly losses; the NASDAQ rose 3% in a fourth straight week of gains for its longest winning streak since the week ending Feb. 3rd, according to Dow Jones Market Data.
Posted on May 19, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Markets: Stocks climbed for the second straight day as a last-minute deal to raise the debt ceiling begins to take shape. GOP House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer signaled their chambers could vote next week on an agreement that would avert the US’ first-ever default.
Stock spotlight: Netflix shares popped after the streamer said its cheaper ad-supported plan is off to a hot start. Earlier this week, Netflix said that 25% of its new subscribers opted for the ad tier in regions where it’s available.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday:
The S&P 500 Index was up 39.28 points (0.9%) at 4198.05; the Dow Jones industrial average was up 115.14 (0.3%) at 33,535.91; the NASDAQ Composite was up 188.27 (1.5%) at 12,688.84.
The 10-year Treasury yield was up about 7 basis point at 3.65%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index was down 0.78 at 16.09.
The tech sector continued to be one of the market’s strongest performers, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index jumping nearly 3% and the Nasdaq-100 closing at a 13-month high. Real estate led decliners among S&P 500 sectors.
Also, the U.S. dollar index surged near a two-month high amid growing confidence the Fed won’t be lowering rates any time soon.
Posted on May 18, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Elizabeth Holmes has been ordered to report to prison on May 30th after an appeals court denied her bid to stay out of jail while she challenges her conviction for defrauding Theranos’s investors.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday:
The S&P 500® Index was up 48.87 points (1.2%) at 4158.77; the Dow Jones industrial average was up 408.63 (1.2%) at 33,420.77; the NASDAQ Composite was up 157.51 (1.3%) at 12,500.57.
The 10-year Treasury yield was up about 3 basis point at 3.577%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index was down 1.11 at 16.88.
Financials were among the strongest performers, with the KBW Regional Banking index soaring over 7%. Semiconductors also climbed and oilfield services companies gained as crude oil futures surged nearly 3%. Utility stocks were among the laggards.
Posted on May 17, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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The Federal Trade Commission said on Tuesday [yesterday] it will try to block an effort by bio-pharmaceutical leader Amgen Inc. from purchasing Horizon Therapeutics for $28.3 billion, charging the move could force insurance companies to favor their products. The FTC said the coupling of Amgen and Horizon could have allowed Amgen to leverage its portfolio of top-selling drugs to entrench a monopoly position in treatments for thyroid eye disease and chronic refractory gout. The watchdog agency said Amgen could force insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, into favoring Horizon’s two monopoly products. It said Tepezza is used to treat thyroid eye disease, while Krystexxa is used to treat chronic refractory gout. The agency said neither of the treatments has competition in the pharmaceutical marketplace.
And, the CME FedWatch Tool shows an 82% probability of the Fed leaving rates where they are, versus an 18% chance of another rate hike. As for rate cuts, Liz Ann Sonders of Schwab said they remain unlikely “unless the banking crisis significantly worsens and/or the economy or labor market sinks notably.” “Otherwise, the most likely outcome is for the Fed to pause and hold,” she added.
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So, here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday:
The S&P 500® Index was down 26.38 points (0.64%) at 4,109.90; the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 336.46 (1.01%) at 33,012.14; the NASDAQ Composite was down 22.16 (0.18%) at 12,343.05.
The 10-year Treasury yield was up about 4 basis points at 3.541%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index was up 90 basis points at 18.02.
The energy sector was one of the weakest performers Tuesday, as WTI Crude Oil futures dipped. The Dow Jones U.S. Oil & Gas Total Stock Market Index was down more than 2%, while the S&P Global Oil Index shed 2.5%. Real estate and utilities also lagged. Communication services and tech were the strongest performers.
Posted on May 16, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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The executive branch of the European Union said Monday that Microsoft has offered enough remedies to address antitrust concerns, paving the way for the proposed $69 billion acquisition of gaming giant Activision Blizzard. The acquisition was opposed by rival game developer and PlayStation console maker Sony over fears it would see Microsoft’s Xbox platform push it out of the market. Market regulators globally, meanwhile, expressed concern over whether Microsoft would come to dominate the cloud-gaming market through the acquisition. On Monday, however, the European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, said Microsoft had done enough to allay concerns on cloud gaming specifically to warrant a positive decision on the merger.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended [yesterday] Monday:
The S&P 500 Index was up 12.20 points (0.30%) at 4,136.28; the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 47.98 (0.14%) at 33,348.60; the NASDAQ Composite was up 80.47 (0.66%) at 12,365.21.
The 10-year Treasury yield was up 3 basis points at 3.50%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index was up 17 basis points at 17.20.
Financial companies were among the leaders Monday, with regional lenders Citizens Bank (CFG), PacWest Bancorp (PACW), Western Alliance (WAL), and Zions Bancorporation (ZION) all bouncing higher after a punishing stretch for the banks last week. The materials and technology sectors were also up, while utilities and real estate lagged.
Posted on May 13, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended this week:
The S&P 500 Index was down 6.54 points (0.2%) at 4124.08; the Dow Jones industrial average was down 8.89 at 33,300.62; the NASDAQ Composite was down 43.76 (0.4%) at 12,284.74.
The 10-year Treasury yield was up about 7 basis points at 3.464%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index was up 0.10 at 17.03.
Consumer Discretionary Socks led the declines Friday among S&P 500 sectors, with financials and energy shares also weaker. Worries over the potential for more trouble in the banking sector helped send the KBW Regional Bank Index to its lowest close since late 2020. Utilities and Consumer Staples were among the stronger performers.
Jerome Powell May Get a New No. 2. President Biden said yesterday that he would nominate economist Philip Jefferson, who is already on the Fed’s board, to become second-in-command at the central bank, replacing Lael Brainard. He also plans to nominate the current US rep to the World Bank, Adriana Kugler, to an empty board seat. She would be the Fed’s first Latina governor. If confirmed by the Senate, the pair will jump into their new roles as the Fed continues to try to curb inflation without tipping the economy into a recession.
Posted on May 12, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500® Index was down 7.02 points (0.2%) 4130.62; the Dow Jones industrial average was down 221.82 (0.7%) at 33,309.51; the NASDAQ Composite was up 22.06 (0.2%) at 12,328.51.
The 10-year Treasury yield was down about 5 basis points at 3.382%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index was down 0.03 at 16.91.
Financial companies were among the weakest performers Thursday, with the KBW Regional Bank Index dropping for a fourth straight day and ending near a 2½-year low. Energy shares were also under pressure with crude oil futures down more than 1%. Consumer Staples and Consumer Discretionary were among the few sectors posting gains. The U.S. dollar index jumped to its highest level in over a week.
Earnings roundup
The following companies reported results over the past day or had large, news-driven stock price moves:
Disney reported earnings of 93 cents per share, which met expectations, and better-than-expected revenue of $21.82 billion, but the drop in streaming subscribers alarmed investors. Subscriptions for the Disney+ streaming service totaled 157.8 million, down 2% from the end of 2022 and below expectations of closer to 163.2 million. This decline overshadowed a 17% jump in revenue from Disney parks. The company’s shares fell more than 8% to near a two-month low.
Alphabet (GOOGL) shares rose over 4% after the Google parent introduced several new artificial intelligence-driven tools at a developers’ conference, according to reports.
Beyond Meat (BYND) reported an expected net quarterly loss of 92 cents per share, an improvement from the $1.58 per share loss a year earlier. But shares of the plant-based meat producer were down about 18% after the company also said it would sell up to $200 million of common stock.
Peloton (PTON) shares fell more than 8% following reports the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said it was recalling more than 2 million bikes over concerns about seat breakages and related injuries. Peloton will offer free, updated seat posts to anyone using the recalled model.
Robinhood (HOOD) reported a net loss of 45 cents per share, better than Wall Street expectations for a loss of about 61 cents per share, as well as stronger than expected revenue. Monthly active users rose 3.5% compared to the previous quarter, to 11.8 million. Shares of the broker rose more than 6%.
Trade Desk (TTD)reported net earnings 2 cents per share, compared with a loss of 3 cents per share a year earlier and above Wall Street expectations. Shares ofthe advertising technology company were down more than 1%.
Earnings reports taper off Friday, with a little over 100 companies expected to report, according to Nasdaq. Next week will also be relatively earnings-light, though several major retailers, including Target Corp. (TGT) on May 17 and Wal-Mart Inc. (WMT) on May 18, are on tap to announce results. Kohl’s Corp. (KSS) is scheduled to report results May 24.
Posted on May 11, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Stocks were a mixed bag yesterday after the consumer price index showed prices rose 4.9% last month, marking the 10th month in a row of cooling inflation and the first time inflation has dipped below 5% in two years. That’s still higher than the Fed’s 2% target, but it leaves space for Jerome Powell to chill out a bit. Tech stocks got a boost from that news, especially Google’s parent, Alphabet, which also benefited from rolling out its new AI.
Economists polled by the Wall Street Journal had forecast the CPI increasing 0.4% and advancing 5.0% over the past year. The core inflation rate rose 0.4% in April for the second straight month, in line with economists forecasts. For the year, the core inflation rate, excluding food and energy prices, increased 5.5% down from a 5.6% rise in March.
“The below 5% headline CPI number is a sigh of relief to a market on edge,” said Alexandra Wilson-Elizondo, co-head of portfolio management for multi asset solutions at Goldman Sachs Asset Management.
Traders hoped that the lower-than-expected inflation data may leave room for the U.S. central bank to refrain from raising interest rates further at its June meeting.
“The data today will be interpreted as not hot enough to force the Fed’s hand in June … We do not think this one data point will determine the outcome of the June FOMC meeting because we still have a string of economic data to process between now and then,” wrote Wilson-Elizondo.
“The details of the print suggest that we are still a meaningful distance from the Fed’s 2% target, giving little reason for the Fed to cut this year.”
Investors priced in the Federal Reserve beginning to trim borrowing costs in coming months, a hope that is seen underpinning stocks of late and helping the S&P 500 index move towards the top of the 3,800 to 4,200 range its has held all year.
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